This
book collects the material from the ancillary specials that should
have been included in the core Complete Case Files line. I am
guessing that the reason why they didn't go that route originally is
that many of these issues are in color and the first bunch of CCFs
are in black and white. Later volumes in CCFs are in full
color, but the optimal route would be what they did for the third
Rogue Trooper collection: Coated stock paper so that they can
print the color stories in color and in their proper place. That ship
has sailed, although there is a hardcover of The Complete Case
Files Vol. 1 on the horizon. We'll see if that rectifies this
error. If it does, that, along with the larger trim size that it will
boast, may just suck me in for the double dip. Kill me now.

These
stories are all over the place in terms of quality. These are all
self-contained short stories for obvious reasons, since they appeared
in random special editions to lure new readers into the fold. There
are a number of references to then-current events in the core title
that would have made these stories more enjoyable if they were
presented in their proper context in the Complete Case Files
line, especially the one with the sort-of return of Fergie, King Of
The Big Smelly.

We
get treated to a Brian Bolland drawn story in The Alien Zoo
from the 2000 A.D. Annual 1982. I was shocked to see John
Byrne handle the artwork in Block Out At The Crater Bowl from
2000 A.D. Sci-Fi Special 1983. I was unaware that he had ever
done work for the UK comic industry. It also makes me wish that he
would have been able to give this character a shot, because I think
that he could have done some cool stuff with him. Oh well, at least
we have this one story.

It's
interesting to see the airbrushed and water colored art, as some UK
comics were printed on slick paper. While it looks primitive by
modern computer coloring it was a real step forward. I remember
seeing some of the Marvel Magazines from the late '70s and thinking
how cool comics on slick paper with an expanded color palette looked.

This
was an uneven but entertaining read. Aside from the stories mentioned
this is for completists only.

Junk
Food For Thought rating: 3 out of 5.

The
OCD zone-
These books are wider than standard trade paperbacks, although they
are still smaller than the original publications.

Five
of the covers which Judge Dredd appeared on are presented in coloUr
in the back of the book.

Linework
and Color restoration: High resolution scans with minimal
tinkering. Since many of these are in color you get to see the
limitations of the printing processes of the time.

Paper
stock: Thick glossy coated stock.

Binding:
Sewn binding on a softcover? Yes please.

Cardstock
cover notes:
Dull matte coating on the cardstock which is easily scuffed, even
when handled gingerly.